--- title: Democratic Debate: Michigan Governor Responds description: Michigan Governor Rick Snyder wasn't too happy about being criticized at Sunday's Democratic debate. canonical: https://time.com/4184080/democratic-debate-rick-snyder-hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders/ author: Daniel White article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-01-18T05:04:58.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-05T08:40:48.537Z article:section: Politics og:title: Michigan Governor Upset About Democratic Debate Mention og:description: Over the water crisis in Flint. og:url: https://time.com/4184080/democratic-debate-rick-snyder-hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt852b4e42cfc996f2/69887987524fc00765df6548/rick-snyder2.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 2560 og:image:height: 1440 og:image:alt: FILE--In this June 20, 2014 file photo, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder speaks in Detroit. The governor's top legislative priorities in 2016 include restructuring Detroit’s school system, updating energy laws and enacting parole and other criminal justice chan og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Michigan Governor Upset About Democratic Debate Mention twitter:description: Over the water crisis in Flint. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt852b4e42cfc996f2/69887987524fc00765df6548/rick-snyder2.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Michigan Governor Upset About Democratic Debate Mention > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: September 2026. ## TIME D.C. Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition D.C. Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. 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Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=accd0604-555e-48db-b64f-ea2b64306a7c&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Watch the Fourth Democratic Debate In Less Than Four Minutes [Watch (HLS stream): Watch the Fourth Democratic Debate In Less Than Four Minutes](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/paDTeAWh.m3u8) (3:47)  _Published 2016-01-18_ by [Daniel White](https://time.com/author/daniel-white/) ## Daniel White Jan 18, 2016 5:04 AM UTC by [Daniel White](https://time.com/author/daniel-white/) ## Daniel White Jan 18, 2016 5:04 AM UTC A Republican politician was upset about being mentioned during the Democratic presidential debate Sunday, but it wasn’t any of the people running for the White House. When moderators asked the candidates if there were any topics they wished had been addressed during the debate, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton brought up the [lead-contaminated tap water](http://time.com/4183739/flint-water-obama-emergency/) in Flint, Mich., referencing [an interview she gave to MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow](http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2016/01/hillary%5Fclinton%5Finfuriated%5Fby.html) on Thursday. “Well, Lester, I spent a lot of time last week being outraged by what’s happening in Flint, Michigan, and I think every single American should be outraged,” Clinton told NBC anchor Lester Holt. “I issued a statement about what we needed to do, and then I went on a TV show and I said it was outrageous that the governor hadn’t acted — and within two hours he had.” Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who spoke next, went even further, noting that he [called for Michigan Governor Rick Snyder to resign](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/01/16/bernie-sanders-calls-on-michigans-governor-to-resign-over-water-contamination-in-flint/) on Saturday. “Well, Secretary Clinton was right, and what I did, which I think is also right, is demanded the resignation of \[the\] governor,” he said. “A man who acts that irresponsibly should not stay in power.” **Read More:** [_President Obama Signs Emergency Declaration Over Flint Water_](http://time.com/4183739/flint-water-obama-emergency/) Snyder, who [decided against a White House run in May](http://www.politico.com/story/2015/05/rick-snyder-not-running-for-president-117713), tweeted his disappointment shortly after the debate ended. > [](http://twitter.com/onetoughnerd/status/688935924391120896) The tweet also got a supportive response from liberal filmmaker Michael Moore, a native of Flint who first received attention for a documentary about the city’s strained relationship with GM. > [](https://twitter.com/MMFlint/status/688931917366824961) ## Transcript Good evening and welcome to the NBC News YouTube Democratic Candidates Debate. I was born to hear Dr. King deliver his I Have a Dream speech. It's important not only that we remember what he stood for but that we pledge to continue his vision. He spent the last day of his life in Memphis Fighting for dignity and higher pay for working people, and that is our fight still. I have supported from day one an instant background check to make certain that people who should not have guns do not have guns. Has voted with the N R A, the gun lobby numerous times. They've both been inconsistent when it comes to this issue. Now, I've never met a self respecting deer hunter that needed a A R 15 to down a deer. There needs to be a concerted effort to address the systemic racism in our criminal justice system. Black lives matter. Who is satisfied that millions of people have police records for possessing marijuana when the CEOs of Wall Street companies who destroyed our economy have no police records. [ APPLAUSE ] We have to make our police departments Look like the communities they serve in their diversity. I want us to defend and build on the Affordable Care Act and improve it. We are spending far more per person on healthcare than the people of any other country. We have the Affordable Care Act. That is one of the greatest accomplishments of president Obama, of the Democratic party, and of our country. What do you see is the difference between what you would do about the banks and what secretary Clinton would do? The first difference is I don't take money from big banks. I don't get personal speaking fees from Goldman Sacks. Senator Sanders called him weak, disappointing. So I'm gonna defend Dodd- Frank, and I'm gonna defend President Obama for taking on Wall Street. [ APPLAUSE ] Taking on the financial industry, and getting results. The debate is over, climate change is real. It is beyond my comprehension [ APPLAUSE ] how we can elect the president of the United States. Somebody like Trump who believes that the climate change is hoax invented by the Chinese. Join me in putting forward of plan to move us to 100 % clean electric energy grid by 2050 it can be done. Iran's behavior in so many ways is something that. We disagree with it. [ SOUND ] I am very proud of the Iran Nuclear Agreement. We have had one good day over 36 years and I think we need more good days before we move more rapidly toward any kind of normalization. What the nightmare is that any of my Republican colleagues appear to want Is to not have learned the lesson of Iraq. I have a three point plan that does not include American ground forces. Qatar happens to be the largest, wealthiest country per capita in the world. They have got to start putting in some skin in the game. << We're on the threshold of a new era of American progress and I believe that we have only need to join forces together and cross that threshold into a new era of American prosperity. << I want to be a president that takes care of the big problems and the problems That are effecting the people of our country every day. [ APPLAUSE ] Thank you. The government of the United States of America belongs to all of us and not just a handful of wealthy campaign contributors. 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